Internet cafe ( ? ) at / near NRT or KIX
 

I am set to land at NRT (Terminal 1) at 0735 and fly out from KIX about 17 hours later (0030). Thanks to all the good information in this forum I think I've got a pretty solid idea of the train procedure and connections for getting from A to B. It'll be a long day and I'll be tired, but nothing I can't handle. However, there is one little snag ...

In-person check-in for my later flight doesn't open until 2200 so even if I get to Kansai early I won't be able to get through security to rest in the lounge ... because I won't have a boarding pass. On the other hand, on-line check-in is open 24 hours before departure, so it will be available as soon as I land at NRT. I will have my laptop.

The question then is, where would be a convenient place along the route of my ground travel where I could go on the 'net -- using either my computer or 'theirs' -- and print my boarding pass, so I can get airside at KIX before 2200?

My middle-of-the-night flight is TG to BKK. I don't believe TG have automated check-in kiosks at KIX so unfortunately that is not an option.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

cheers,

Henry

In Narita town, there is ez netcafe in front of the JR Narita station. They are open from 10am to 10pm so they will be closed when you arrive. Printing per page cost is 10 yen for b/w and 30 yen for color.

In KIX, there's the Kanku Lounge.

What is your ground transportation plan? Narita express to Tokaido Shinkansen to Haruka? There are more choices around Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Osaka stations.

Exactly. Apparently it's easier to connect from the N'Ex to the Nozomi at Shinagawa than at Tokyo so I was thinking of doing that. I did see the reference to eznetcafe but I wasn't planning on stopping in Narita town. I'll check out the Kanku Lounge. Thanks a lot.

cheers,

Henry

You can fly to KIX from HND. (Take a bus from NRT to HND, then fly to KIX). I think it would be easier and cheaper than the train journey - particularly if you can use a star alliance or oneworld airpass.

+1.

While the train is doable as the OP has mentioned, I think I would try to do a HND-KIX flight instead.

Thanks for the comments but, actually, the train is a specifically-included element in the experience. :)

cheers,

Henry

I sense a new Tecchan among us. ;) Try and pick up a copy of the Railfan Magazine at a bookstore. It's packed with photos and technical details including centerfold schematics of featured trainset of the month.

Yes, Shinagawa station is smaller and easier to navigate than Tokyo station.

There is a manga cafe near Shin Osaka: Media Cafe Popeye is across the plaza in front of the Shin Osaka station. I can't find a manga cafe near Tokyo or Shinagawa, however.

I might be wrong, but won't you need to check in at an airline counter before passing through security? It seems that even when I print a boarding pass, I'm required to go to the counter to finish the procedure and have them check my passport.

Maybe it's different in Japan? but isn't the whole point of checking in and printing the BP online that you don't have to queue at the check-in counter?

cheers,

Henry

Thanks for that, msb0b.

cheers,

Henry

I second the Media Cafe Popeye recommendation, although new member registration is a pain. Showers are free too.

I'm not sure, but can't you ask the Thai Airways desk at Narita to print them out for you? There's TG641 departing 10:45am, so the check-in counter opens at 8:15am, which should be around the time you get out of immigration and baggage claim.

Also, I don't remember if Thai had check-in kiosks at Kansai, but you can e-mail them and ask, I suppose: [email protected]

Thanks very much for your comments. I couldn't find anything on either the Thai or KIX websites mentioning TG kiosks at Kansai, so I was thinking that there weren't any. Regarding TG check-in at NRT giving us our BPs for the flight departing from KIX -- can they really do that? And / or, will they?

cheers,

Henry

I honestly don't know. You're the first I've ever encountered with a situation like this. I don't see why they couldn't, since the flight is within 24 hours. It doesn't hurt to ask ([email protected]); I suppose you could also just check-in over the internet at NRT and then walk up to the Thai Airways desk and ask them to print out the BP for your checked-in flight. If they say no, then you can go to an internet cafe as the back-up plan.

Indeed most of the manga cafes require user registration. However, I have used the Media Cafe Popeye in Ikebukuro last year and they did not require registration (a friend tipped me off about it.) Maybe it is up to the store owner/operator's discretion.

Somewhere, somehow they need to swipe your passport to get your info. I mainly fly Delta (formerly NW) and I'm sure that when I check in online I always get a notice saying to be sure to go to the check in counter or an airport kiosk to swipe my passport. That happens before security.